What is the primary purpose of early software cost estimation?
To determine software pricing, where price = cost + profit.
What is the dominant factor in most software project costs?
Effort costs (salaries, social & insurance costs).
What are the two most frequently cited sources of software size metrics?
Lines of Code (LOC) and Function Point Analysis (FPA).
What is a key disadvantage of using Lines of Code (LOC) for early estimation?
Limited early information due to incomplete requirements and evolving scope.
What do Function Points measure in software?
They measure software size by quantifying the functionality provided to the user based on logical design and specs.
Are Function Points dependent on the programming language or technology used?
No, they are independent of language, methodology, technology, or team capability.
From whose perspective are Function Points measured?
From the user’s perspective.
What is the first step in the Function Point Counting Procedure?
Determine the type of function point count.
What are the two main categories of functions counted in FPA?
Data Functions and Transactional Functions.
What does ILF stand for in FPA?
Internal Logical File (data the application can modify, within its boundary).
What does EIF stand for in FPA?
External Interface File (data the application can only read, maintained by another system).
What does EI stand for in FPA?
External Input (process where data moves from outside the application to inside).
What does EO stand for in FPA?
External Output (processed information/calculation result sent to the user).
What does EQ stand for in FPA?
External Inquiry (unprocessed information sent to the user, no calculation).
What does FTR stand for in FPA?
File Type Reference (the number of files a function interacts with).
What does DET stand for in FPA?
Data Element Type (the number of distinct user-recognizable fields/attributes).
What does RET stand for in FPA?
Record Element Type (a subgroup or logical subset of data within a file).
What is the Unadjusted Function Point (UFP)?
The sum of the weighted counts of all Data and Transaction Functions before adjustment.
What is the formula for the Value Adjustment Factor (VAF)?
VAF = 0.65 + (0.01 * Total Degree of Influence (TDI)).
How many General System Characteristics (GSCs) are used to calculate the TDI?
14
What is the range of influence for each GSC?
From 0 (no influence) to 5 (strong influence).
What is the final formula for Adjusted Function Points (AFP)?
AFP = UFP * VAF.
How can you estimate project effort (in person-months) using AFP?
Divide the AFP by the organization’s historical productivity rate (e.g., AFP / 18 FPs per month).
How can you estimate project labor cost using effort?
Multiply the estimated person-months by the average monthly cost per programmer (including benefits).
